Normally I would agree with you, and the Southstand has been known to have an impact, but this season our discipline has been remarkable, and along with our ridiculous goal line (and over) defence is why our points against column makes such delightful reading. I'd be very surprised if we give away more than a handful of penalties at the Etihad.

I must admit that I've been impressed by Leeds this season. I really thought that after the playoff last season you would struggle this one with many of your stars moving towards the twilight of their careers.

Much praise for this should go to Brian McDermott who is showing himself to be a better coach than many Leeds fans thought.

In fact just to go OT I think that in BMc and Shaun Wane we currently have two outstanding English coaches in Super League. It mystifies me why one of them wasn't approached to take the England team in the 4 Nations next winter.

The Rhinos discipline has improved massively this season. We have conceded just 59 penalties, the lowest of any team in SL. Is that all influenced by the Southstand or one particular referee? If so our away following must be outrageous.
This is the area I have been most impressed with this season. Usually Leeds give away daft penalties and invite the opposition to take the game from us, this season that has changed. As opposition fans you'll feel like you're getting nothing but that is because Leeds will be giving you nothing not the referee.

Personally I don't like referee talk, its small minded, and generally surrounds teams from lower down in the division.

What gets me is Wane as a LF playing at Leigh 23 year old Sam Hopkins bring him bach till we get Lockers sorted out is it because he is from Leigh academy and not Wigan academy.

If you read my post carefully I specifically said I WASN'T criticising the ref. I agree that criticising the ref is small minded.

However, if you think that vociferous home crowds don't influence the ref then you are naive my friend. No doubt Leeds discipline has improved, but probably not to the extent that we saw last time out with the penalty count so much in your favour.

Leeds fans may not like it (although they should) but there's no two ways about it- that South stand at Leeds has a big bearing on refereeing decisions at Headingley. It's something Leeds should be proud of in all honesty! That stand is so tight to the pitch and creates a very vocal atmosphere that IMO sways referees decisions. That's not small minded but logical.

Having that presence and influence of guys like Sinfield and Peacock certainly doesn't harm them either. I genuinely feel referees feel a little intimidated having to give decisions against Leeds and I can understand that.

Not directed towards you, I've seen comments regarding referees and Leeds quite a bit recently.

Where did I say the Southstand doesn't have any influence on referee decisions??

I said Leeds are not giving the opposition anything and the stats prove that. You dont concede the lowest penalties in the league just because of the Southstand.

As already alluded to, last week I saw 2 occasions when Leeds' players legs were lifted above the horizontal, the southstand erupted then, what was given? Nothing.

Yes, 50/50 decisions crowds can influence the referee, and when they go against you its your teams own fault for been in that position in the first place. Its 50/50, your away from home etc...

I thought that this rather facetious comment said it...but I may have misunderstood. If I have - apologies

Getting the rub of the green with a few 50-50 calls is all part of home-field advantage. In fact it's the major part of home-field advantage, in every fixture. Not sure that the South Stand being close to the action makes much difference to this, in fact Odsal (forrrwarrrd) used to seem the worst place for it.

But there's the secret. Odsal was the worst place for this when Bradford were buoyant. Teams that are dominant have more of the ball, are attacking faster are likely to get more opportunities for penalties as the opposition tries all means to stop this. Chicken and egg. Which comes first, the dominance then the penalties or the penalties then the dominance? I'd suggest it's more of the former than most fans make out. It's like people thinking football referees are bent to the "big clubs" because they get more penalties than the smaller clubs. It's not because they're big it's because they have more possession and are in the penalty area more.

That said, Leeds's general discipline has improved out of sight this season. Very few penalties get given away for violent play or high tackles these days anyway, but for play-the-ball offences and backchat there's been a tendency for Leeds to give away a few on the bounce losing their rag in "world's against us" way. They've reined that in completely, at just about the same time as JJB got injured.

Is Ryan Bailey playing less matches these days?

I'd keep Macca at 9 at all costs. Thought he was reallyineffective in SR/LF at Hull personally.
Bateman to 13, Connor Farrell to SR

It was significant that in in the Hull game on Friday Jack Hughes was the only forward to make over 100 meters and they six of our top eight meter makers were backs. www.superleague.co.uk/report/9985 Somehow that has to change on Saturday if we stand any chance v Leeds. I think it maybe a step too far this weekend but if we put up in the effort then I'll be content. We can only go with what we have got and have a dig. The next BIG match is Cas in the Cup.

It was significant that in in the Hull game on Friday Jack Hughes was the only forward to make over 100 meters and they six of our top eight meter makers were backs. www.superleague.co.uk/report/9985 Somehow that has to change on Saturday if we stand any chance v Leeds. I think it maybe a step too far this weekend but if we put up in the effort then I'll be content. We can only go with what we have got and have a dig. The next BIG match is Cas in the Cup.

We'll be in Mary D's on Grey Mare Lane pre match.

Scott Taylor is the forward that really needs to have a big game IMO if we're to go close. He's capable of making huge metres but he needs to really increase his workrate on Saturday in comparison to what he's been producing recently.

He's only a young lad making his way and he's destined for massive things. These are the sort of opportunities for him to shape his career.